Ore-concentrator



' 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

RB. & O. E. BALL.

Ore Concentrator.

Patented June 22, 18 80.

JNVENT J A TTORNEY N. Prsns. puorvlv-umosawnga, msmusrbn, u. c,

2 Sheets-Sheet 2. R. E. & G. E. BALL.

Ore Concentrator.

No. 22 ,079. Patented June 22,1880

llllll-llllllllli v W] T NESSES A TIDE/gig UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE,

R. EDWARD BALL, OF JAMAICA, NEWV YORK, AND CHARLES E. BALL, OF

PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

ORE-CONCENTRATOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent'No. 229,079, dated June 22, 11880.

Application filed February 6, 1880.

To all whom it may concern Beitknown that we, R. EDWARD BALL, of J amaica, Queens county, in the State of New York, and CHARLES E. BALL, of Philadelphia, in the county of Philadelphia and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Concentrators; and we do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it pertains to make and use it, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form part of this specification, in which- Figure 1 is a longitudinal vertical section of a concentrator embodying our improvements. Fig. 2 is a perspective detail of the revolving crushing and heater arms. Fig. 3 is a like view, partly in section, of thelower end of concentratingcylinder, showing the fixed crushing arms or heaters. Fig. 4 is a detail elevation of the ejector part of the steam-pipe, and Fig. 5 is a detail elevation of the combining portion of the said pipe.

Our invention consists, essentially, in effect ing concentrations by causing ore containing mineral to pass through a body of mercury held in suspension by suction or exhaust, collecting the mineral concentrations on the surface of such mercury While the gangue or lighter o portion is drawn off, and then drawing off such concentration by suction or exhaust.

Our invention consists, further, in the peculiar construction of the apparatus whereby we effect the result above stated, and in the novel 3 5 combination of parts constituting said apparatus; also, in certain details of the process, hereinafter fully specified.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, A indicates a pan or tank, and B an upright cyl- 0 inder located in said tank, and having its open lower end, I), slightly above the bottom of the latter, the upper end of said cylinder being closed, as shown at b.

C is a steam-pipe entering through the end I 5 b and passing through the bottom a of tank A,-and terminating in a double outlet or twoway cock, D, whose ports are d and (1. Within said pipe is a steam jet or nozzle, 6, and combining-cone e, the sides of the pipe being cut away or removed to form openings 0 0 between .said nozzle and cone. This construction produces a steam-ejector, the operation of which will be presently described.

F is a sleeve encircling the pipe C, and capable of being lifted and lowered on said pipe, 5 5 so as toleave a clear passage laterally to the openings 0 c, or to surround the same, as may be required under the circumstances and conditions hereinafter specified. Said sleeve is connected by a rod, f, with a lever, G, ful- 6o crumed on an arm, H, and connected by another rod, 9, with the valve 61 of the cock D.

is a water-pipe, provided with valve '5, entering the cylinder B through its top D.

K isa ring surrounding said cylinder B and 6 5 capable of being rotated thereon. Said ring K is connected with another ring, K, by vertical rods It It. The ring K has curved arms k k, which radiate from the pipe 0 as a center, and the cylinder B has like but stationary 7o arms'b b which curve in the opposite direction.

The operation is as follows: Mercury is first put into the tank A in quantity sufficient sothat when lifted by exhaust or suction into the cylinder Bit will fill the latter up or about up to the flange N. The ore to be concentrated, mixed or diluted with water, is fed into the tank A, steam being simultaneously or previously admitted through pipe 0, so as to suspend the mercury by exhaust in the cylinder B. The sleeve F is at this time maintained in its elevated position, as shown by full line in Fig. 1, the port (I being open and port d closed. The water is also shut off from entering through pipe I by means of valve 1'. The rings K K are also caused to rotate by gearing or a belt applied to the former. The orepulp, fed as stated, is drawn under the suspended mercury and passes through the same, 0 its lumps being disintegrated and the mass forced toward the center by the action of the arms k k and b N. On reaching the top of the mercury the gangue or earth and water will be drawn off through the ejector, while the 5 concentrations, owing to their greater specific gravity, will accumulate above the surface of such mercury. The upper section, B, of the cylinder B should be made of glass, to permit the extent of accumulation to be observed. 10c

As soon as sufficient mineral has been concentrated the water-cock t is opened, whereupon the ejector will decrease its drawing action upon the ore pulp, as its capacity will be satisfied by the inflow of water through said pipe I, which it will take in preference to the pulp. The mercury will then fall in the cylinder B suiiiciently to seal the space between the lower edge of the latter and the bottom a of tank A. The sleeve F is now forced down into the concentrations, thereby diminishing in effect the diameter of the chamber surrounding the ejector. This will increase the velocity of the water flowing to said ejector, and will cause the concentrations to be carried along with the water up into the sleeve F, thence through the openings 0 c and out the port d, which latter was opened when the sleeve F was slid down, as specified,and shown by dotted lines in Fig. 1. When the concentrations have thus been removed the parts are restored to normal positions and operations continued as before.

We have shown the ejector as located within the cylinder B and above the surface of the mercury when lifted therein, and this construction we prefer, as by it the suction exerted by the ejector is reduced to the lowest possible amount, and the pipe 0, from said injector to the outlets d d, is practically a discharge-pipe, through which the outflow will pass by gravity. If desired, however, the ejector may be outside of the cylinder B and 'tank Abelow the bottom of the latter, for

example, and between it and the cock D.

The lower section of the cylinder B should be of metal and the upper section of glass, both sections having flanges b b, bolted together on an interposed gum gasket. By this arrangement the operation of the apparatus can be observed through said upper section, and the latter removed whenever required for cleaning or repairs.

What we claim as our invention is- 1. The process herein described of concentrating minerals by causing ore containing the same to pass through a body of mercury held in suspension by suction or exhaust, concentrating the mineral on the surface of the mercury while the gangue is drawn off, and then drawing off the concentrations by suction or exhaust, substantially as specified. g

2. In the process of effecting concentration by drawingore through a body of mercury held in suspension by suction or exhaust, the method of retarding or arresting the passage of ore through said mercury and of carrying off the concentrations, consisting in admitting a supply of water to the ejector above the surface of the mercury and diminishing the area of the inflow to the ejector.

3. In combination with the discharge-pipe 0, having openings 0 0, the sleeve F, as set forth.

4. In combination with pipe 0, having opening 0 and two-way cock D, the sleeve F, lever G, and connecting-rods fg, whereby the ports of said cock are controlled by the movement of said sleeve, as set forth.

5. In combination with cylinder B, having stationary curved arms 1) b the rotating ring K, having radial arms 70 7a, which are curved in a contrary direction to the arms 1) b and the ring K and rods 7a, substantially as shown and described.

In testimony that we claim the foregoing we have hereunto set our hands this 4th day oi February, 1880.

vR. EDWARD BALL.

CHAS. E. BALL.

Witnesses:

S. J. VAN STAVOREN, CHAS. F. VAN HORN. 

